Five-knife four-stage book trimmer



Aug. v7, 1951 Filed March 22, 1948 c. l.. MoYl-:R 2,562,938

FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER 14 Sheets-Sheel'l l Aug. 7, 1951 c. l.. MoYER 2,562,938 y 4 FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER Filedmarch 22.1948 14 sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 7, 1951 c. l.. MoYER 2,552,938

FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BooK TRM/1ER Filed March 22. 1948 14 sheets-sheet 4 C. L. MOYER FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER Aug. 7, 1951 2,562,938y

Filed March 22, 1948 14 sheets-sneer 5 Aug. 7, 1951 Filed March 22. 1948 c. MOYER 2,562,938

FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 C. L. MOYER FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 7, 1951 Filed March 22. 1948 Aug. 7, 1951 c. l.. MOYER 2,562,938

FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER Filed March 22, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Aug. 7, 1951 c. MOYER 2,552,938

FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER Filed March 22, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Aug. '7, 1951 c. l.. MoYER Y 2,562,938

FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER L I Filed March 22. 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet lO F4 f//a yf] ff Aug. 7, 1951l c. L. MoYl-:R

F IVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER 14 Sheets-Sheet l1 Filed March 22, 1948 ug 7, l951 I c. L. MoYER 2,562,938

FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BooK TRIMMER v Filed Maren 22, 1948 14 sheets-sheet 1s Aug. 7, 1951 A c. L. MYR '2,562,938

FIVE-KNIF`E FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER Filed March 22, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 FIVE-KNIFE FOUR-STAGE BOOK TRIMMER Charles L. Moyer, deceased, late of Chicago, Ill., by Clifford S. Bassett, executor, Chicago, Ill., assignor to C. L. Moyer Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 22, 1948, Serial No. 16,356

14 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in book trimming machines adapted for use in trimming the head, foot and front edges of bound books, catalogs, pamphlets and the like. More particularly, this invention is concerned with the provision of a five-knife, four-stage book trimming machine adapted for use in trimming book units in which each unit comprises a plurality of printed sheets bound together to form two complete books when the unit is cut transversely intermediate its ends. During the trimming operation, each book unit is first delivered to the first stage of the machine to be trimmed along its front edge. The unit is then transferred to the second stage of the machine to be trimmed along its head and foot. In the third stage of the machine, the unit is cut in half to form two individual books, one of which does not require further trimming. In the fourth stage of the machine, the unfinished individual book is trimmed on one of its ends.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a four-stage book trimming machine embodying improved means for automatically transferring the book units from stage to stage throughout the several trimming operations.

This invention further contemplates the provision of improved stop means and aligning means for accurately arranging the book units in position to be trimmed throughout the several stages of the machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a book trimming machine in which the knives, stop members, and other operating parts may readily be adjusted to adapt the machine for use in trimming books of different sizes.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a book trimming machine in which a single knife carrier is provided for the several knives and is mounted for reciprocable movement upon a machine base or a frame having a plurality of cutting blocks secured thereon to coact with the knives in trimming the book units. To control the cutting stroke of the knife carrier, it is brought into engagement with the machine base upon contact of the knives against their respective cutting blocks. The knife edges and cutting blocks are thereby provided with a relatively long service life as the cutting stroke is always terminated immediately upon contact of the knife edges against the cutting blocks.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating a five-knife, four-stage trimming machine embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of same.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of same.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the feed mechanism and stop mechanism employed for controlling the movement of book units through the machine.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken along the line IIJ-Iii of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the feed and alignment mechanism employed for the first stage of the machine.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line |2--I2 of Fig. l1.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional View taken along the line I4-I4 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional View taken 'along the line lli-l5 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line I6-l6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line l'l-I'l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 18 is a schematic view illustrating the four stages employed in trimming each book unit.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a book unit and the method of trimming same to form two individual trimmed books.

Machine base Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention, the five-knife, four-stage book trimming machine is shown as comprising a flat top base I formed with side frame members 2 and 3, end frame members 4 and 6, and a top plate 'l which are secured or bolted together to form a relatively strong, rigid supporting structure for the other parts of the machine.

In the construction of the machine, the frame members and top plate are assembled first, then the upper surface of the top plate is accurately machined to provide a smooth finished work face 3 to receive and support the parts of the machine mounted thereon. It has been found that a machine base constructed in this manner facilitates the construction and improves the operation of the machine,V as Y accurate measurements may be taken from the top plate work face to all other parts of the machine.

Knife carrier A knife carrier 8 is guided for vertical reciprocable movement above themachine base I by means of a plurality of guide columns 9 having their lower ends bolted against the upper surface of the top plate 1 and their upper portions extending through bearings II provided on the knife carrier. The guide columns 9 are preferably formed round in cross section and have their upper ends reduced in diameter for snug engagement within apertures I2 formed in a cover plate I3, the inner `end ,ofV the reduced portion terminating atwanannular shoulderrwhich engages the lower face of the cover plate. VVVThe cover plate issecured against upward displacement from the columns by means of cap screws I4 and washers I6. H t t Each column vis formed with anwabut'ment shoulder i1 which acts as a fixed stop to limit the downwardvmovement of theuknife carrier. This is an important feature of the present invention as theknives carried by the carrier are always brought to rest on their downward stroke at a predetermined fixed distance from the upper surface of the top plate 1 and cutting blocks mounted thereon.

Drive for knife carrier A pair of crank shafts I8 and I9, journaled in suitable bearings provided on the side frame members 2 and 3, are formed with crank portionsy at their ends to receive the lower ends of conmove the kniiercarrier V8 into contact with the l,

abutment shoulders I1 which serve as stops to limit the downward movement of the knife carrier.

A pair of gears 28 and 21 are keyed to the crank shafts I8 and I9, respectively, for meshing engagement with a gear 28 keyed to cam shaft 29 which is journaled in suitable bearings provided on the side frame members 2 and 3. A gear SI is keyed to a shaft 32, journaled in the side frame members 2 and 3, to drive the gear 28. A gear 33 is also keyed to the shaft 32 to be driven by a gear 34 keyed to a pulley shaft 35. A pulley 31 is keyed to the pulley shaft 36 to be driven by belts 38 from a motor 39.

Knife holders A nished flat surface is formed on the bottom side of the knife carrier 8 to receive a plurality of knife holder 'guide plates 4I, 42, 43, 44 and 45, the plates 4I, 44 and 45 being secured in fixed position by means of cap screws 46, and the plates 42 and 43 being adjustable transversely of the knife carrier by means of suitable adjustment screws 41. If desired, the guide plates 4I, 44 and 45 may be formed with slots to receive their respective cap screws 46 to permit limited adjustment of the guide plates relative to the knife carrier.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6, 17 and 18 in the drawings, the first stage knife holder, indicated generally at A, is shown as comprising a body member 48 formed along its upper edge with a dovetail portion 49 for reciprocable movement in a dovetail groove 5I formed in the guide plate 4I. An adapter 52 is secured` to one side of the body member 48, by means of a key portion 53 and cap screws 54, to support a knife 55. As the other knife holders, indicated generally at B, C, D and E, are constructed and mounted for reciprocable movement in their respective guide plates 42, 43, 44 and 45 in the manner just described in connection with knife holder A, a further description of same is believed to be repetitious and unnecessary. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6, 17 and 18, each of the knife holders A, B, C, D and E are adapted to support knives 55, 51, 58, 59 and 6I, respectively, the knives being adjustably positioned upon their respective adapters by means of adjustment screws 62 and locking screws 63.

A connecting link 54 is journaled at, its one end on a bearing pin 65provided on the body member 48 of the knife holder A, and is j ournaled at its other end on a bearing pin 65 secured to the cover plate I3. During reciprocable movement of the knife carrier 8, it will be noted that the connecting link 64 is pivoted about its bearing pin 86 and thus imparts reciprocable movement to the knife holder A toeffect a draw-cut shearing action by the knife 56 during its cutting stroke. .Y

A bearing pin 61 extends transversely through apertures formed in the knife holders B and C to engage the lower ends of a pair of connecting links {iS-68 which have their upper ends journaled on pivot pins 69- -69 secured to the cover plate I3. A bearing pin 1I extends transversely through an aperture formed in the knife holder D toV engage the lower ends of a pair of connecting links 1212 which` have their upper ends journaledV on pivot `pins `13-13 secured to the cover plate I3. A bearing pin 14 extends transversely through an aperture formed in lt-he knife holder E to engage the lower ends of connecting links 15-15 which have their uupper ends journal'ed on pivot pins 'IE- 716. When the knife carrier 3 is reciproca-ted vertically, the connecting links Gli-68, 'I2-12 and I5-15 act to impart draw-cut reciprocable movement to their respective knife holders relative to the knife carrier 8.

As illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18, cutting tables 11, 15, 19, SI and 32 are secured by suitable screws Sil to the upper rsurface of the top plate 1 and below their respective knives 5E, 51, 58, 59 and 6I. A cutting block 33, preferably formed of hard fibrous material, is secured in position on each cutting table by means of a clamping plate 34 and cap screws 85. The cutting blocks 83 are preferably formed square in cross-section to provide four similarA surfaces which may be employed to coact with Athe knives in trimming books. The adjustment screws -86 and 81-81 are journaled in suitable thrust bearings provided on the top plate 1 to move their respective cutting tables 18 and 19 toward or away from each other. vEaohrset of adjustment screws 86-96 and 81-8'1 is `preferably Vconnected for common rotational movement by means of sprockets and sprocket chains 88 and 89, respectively, to thus maintain the cutting tables 18 and 19 in parallel alignment at all times.

Hold-down device As illustrated in Fig. 17, a hold-down device 9| is mounted on each of the knife holder guide plates 4|, 42, 43, 44 and 45 to coact with their respective cutting tables 11, 18, 19, 8| and 82 to hold books in position during the cutting stroke of their respective knives 56, 51, 58, 59 and 6|. The hold-down device is of well known construction and comprises a frame 92 secured to a guide plate by means of cap screws 93. A hold-down bar 94 is provided with guide rods 96 which extend upwardly through cylindrical bores 91 formed in the frame 92. Suitable compression springs 96 are interposed between the frame 92 and bar 94 to yieldably resist movement of the bar toward the frame, and stop screws 99 are provided on the bar for engagement with the frame to limit the movement of the bar downwardly away from the frame.

First stage book feed mechanism The books to be trimmed are rst delivered from a binding machine, or from a hopper, to the trimming machine by any suitable book transfer mechanism I 00, such as the one described and claimed in co-pending application, Serial No. 793,076, led December 22, 1947, embodying a continuously driven endless conveyor provided with push lugs |02 at equally spaced intervals, and a pair of reciprocating racks (not shown) provided with push lugs |03 which serve to transfer books from the end of the conveyor belt |0| into position to be trimmed along their front edges by the rst stage trimming knife 56. The book transfer mechanism |00 is driven in timed relation with the book trimming machine, by means of a chain drive |09a, to deliver one book, or a stack of two or more books, to the rst stage of the trimming machine during each operating cycle of the latter.

.Book transfer mechanism Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 11 to 16, inclusive, a book transfer mechanism, generally indicated at |04, is shown as cornprising a pair of opposing jaws |06|06a mounted on jaw mechanisms I91-|01a. As the jaw mechanisms |01 and |01a are similar Vin construction and operation, the followingdescription of mechanism |01 also applies to mechanism |01a, with corresponding numbers followed by the letter a being applied to corresponding parts.

The jaw mechanism |01 is shown as comprising a carriage |08 formed with two parallel bores to receive a pair of guide rods |09 and the ends of the guide rod |09 being secured to the free ends of pivot arms ||2| I 2, and the ends of the guide rod being secured to the free ends of pivot arms I|3| |3. A jaw bracket ||4 is secured to the carriage |08 and provided with a bore to receive the shank portion of the jaw |06 which is secured in adjusted position by a set screw ||6. The pivot arms ||2||2 are journaled on pivot pins II1-II1 mounted in bearing members ||8||8 secured to the top plate 1, and pivot arms I|3| I3 are secured to opposite ends of a shaft ||9 journaled in the bearing members I |8| I0.

The jaws |06 and |06a are moved toward each other for clamping engagement against the head and front of a book by means of a cam |2| secured to the shaft |8. The cam |2I is formed with a cam track |22 to receive a roller |23 mounted in an actuating arm |24, the free end of the arm |24 being connected to the end of a lever |26 secured to a shaft |21 which is journaled in bearings |28 secured to the bottom of the top plate 1. A pair of levers |29|29a are secured to opposite ends of the shaft |21 and have their free ends connected to connecting links I3I`|3Ia which, in turn, are connected to the free ends oi levers |32|32a. The levers |32`|32a are keyed to the shafts I|9| |9a.

The jaw supporting carriages |08|08a are movable back and forth along their respective guide rods |09||| and |09a|||a by meansof a cam |33 which is keyed to the shaft 8 and formed with a cam track |34 to receive a roller |36 mounted on an actuating arm |31. The free end of the arm |31 is connected to the free end of a lever |38 which is secured to a shaft |39 journaled in bearings |4|-I4|. A pair of carriage actuating levers |42|42a are secured to opposite ends of the shaft |39 and have their free ends offset at |43|43a for engagement in slide bearings |44I 44a secured in the carriages |08| 08a, respectively.

Book feed mechanism The books travel through the trimming machine along flat plates |46 supported in spaced parallel relation above the top plate 1 by means of a plurality of posts |41. The book transfer mechanism |04 acts to move books from the first stage of the machine into position to be engaged by a rst set of feed lingers |48-I48 provided on their respective feed racks I 49-I 49, as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9 in the drawings.

The feed racks |49|49 are mounted in spaced parallel relation for common reciprocable movement in guide frames I5 5| which are pivotally supported upon the upper ends of a plurality of connecting links |52, the lower ends of the links being journaled on suitable bearings |53 secured to the top plate '1. The feed racks are provided with three additional sets of feed fingers, indicated at |48a-|48a, I48b|48b and |48c-I48c, which act, one set after the other, to move books through the trimming machine along the fiat guide plates |46.

The guide frames |5|I5| are raised and lowered simultaneously,v to alternately position the feed ngers above and below the guide plates |46, by means of a cam |54 keyed to the shaft 29. The cam |54 is formed with a track |56 to receive a roller |51 journaled on an actuating arm |58, the lower end of said arm being bifurcated to straddle the shaft 29. A crossbar |59 is secured to the upper end of the actuating arm 58, the ends of the crossbar being pivotally connected to the lower ends of a pair of supporting arms |6 |-I 6| The upper ends of the supporting arms |6||6| are keyed to cross shafts |62|62 which in turn are keyed to the lower ends of two sets of upper supporting arms |63|63 and IGA-|64. The upper ends of the arms I63-| 63 and |64| 64 are pivotally connected to the ends of the guide frames |5||5|.

The feed racks |49|49 are reciprocated within their respective guide frames |5||5| by means of a crank |66 (see Fig. 6) formed on the end of the shaft 29 to engage the lower end of a connecting rod |61, the upper end of the connecting rod being journaled at the free end of a crank arm |68 keyed to a shaft |69. The shaft |69 is journaled in suitable bearings I1| and has a gear segment |12 keyed thereon for meshing engagement with a gear |13. The gear |13- is keyed to a shaft |74 which is journaled in suitable bearings provided on the top plate 7. The gear |73 meshes with a gear |776 journaled on a shaft |77 supported at its ends on a pair of bearings llt-I 78. The gear |76 meshes with a driven pinion |79 keyed to a shaft |8I, the ends of the shaft being journaled in suitable bearings provided in the guide frames ISI-45|. A pair of rack gears HB2-'|82 (see Fig. '7) are keyed to opposite ends of the shaft lili for meshing engagement with the feed racks' |49-|49.

S'tofp mechanism As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, the` book stop mechanism is shownA as comprising a pair of stopk bars |'83-l83 which are arranged in spaced parallel relation above the top plate 7 to coact with the feed mechanism in positioningthebooks to be trimmed throughout the several stagesA ofthe trimming machine. The stop bars |833-I83 are mounted on the upper ends oftw'osets-of connecting linksl |B4|84 and |86'1|8'6. The. lower ends of theV connecting links |84-|8ll are keyed to a shaft |87', and the lower ends of theV con'- necting links IBG-|86 are journaled-in'l bearings IBS- |88 provided on the top plate 7.

The shaft |87 is journaled inV bearings ISN- |89 and has a lever |9| keyed thereto for engagement by an actuating arm |92. The lower endv of the actuating arm |92 is provided with a. roller |93VV for engagement in a cam track |94` formed in a cam |96 keyed to the shaft 29. The lower end of the arm |92 is bifurcated to straddle the shaft 29. The stop bars |8'3|8'3 carry four sets of stop fingers indicated at |98`-|98, |98a-|98a, mtb-49th and Hielo-|9007, the stopnngers being mounted for limited. adjustment longitudinally along their respective bars.

As thev books travelV along the plates |46, they are frictionally engaged along their topY sidesV by a pair of hold-down plates 201e-|'. The' hold.- down plates 20|-20I are suportecl at the endu of adjustable bolts 202, and` compression springs-203 are provided on each ofthe bolts to yiel'dablyv re= sist upward movement of the hold-down plates.

Book stacking mechanism Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 inthe drawings, the book stacking mechanism is shown as comprising a pusher 204 disposed forV reciprocable movement along a receiving plate 206. The' push plate 204 is connected to the outer ends of a pair of connecting links 20T-207 which' have their inner ends pivotally connected to the upper ends of a pair of lever arms 208-208. The lower ends of the levers 208-208 are journaled in' suitable bearings 20s-209 provided on the end frame member 0. A shaft 2|| is secured at its. ends in the levers 208-208 to engage one end oa connecting link 2|2, the other end of the connecting link being engaged by a crank arm 2 I3 provided on a shaft Zhi. The shaft 2|4 is journaled in bearings 2HE-2 I6 secured to theV end frame E, and a sprocket 2|7 is keyed to theV shaft 2id to receive a sprocket chain 2|8. The sprocket chain 2|8` extends around a driving sprocket 2|-0keyed to the shaft |97. Y

Operation The five-knife four-stage trimming" machine thus described and' illustrated in the drawings is particularly adaptedfor use in trimming books printed and bound in duplicate', as; illustrated" in Fig. 19. As illustrated in Fig; 1'8, the' duplicate book 220 is iirst trimmed along its front edge 22| by meansv of the mst-stage trimming knife 56. In the second stage, the book 220 is trimmed along its head and foot 222 and 223, respectively, by means of the knives 58 and 57. In the third stage ofthe machine, the double book 220- is cut transversely intermediate its ends along the line 224 by means of the knife 59 to form one completely trimmed book 225 and one incompletely trimmedlbook 22S. In the fourth-stage of the rnan chine, the incompletely tri-mined book is trimmed along the line 227 by means of the knife 6| to complete the trimming operation of the double book220- The double books 220 are delivered to the book trimming machine by means of the book feed mechanism |60 comprising an endless conveyor lill and push lugs |03 mounted for reciprocable movement. The book feed mechanism |00 is shown and described in detail in copending patent application, Serial No. 793,076, filed December 22, i947. The knife carrier il is adapted to be reciprocated in a` vertical plane by means of the crank shafts i8 and Ed acting through their respective connecting rods 2i, and one bock or stack ofV books is delivered to the first stage of the trimming machine during each cycle of operation of the knife carrier E.

In the rst stage of the trimming machine, the double book 22d is held in position against the cutting table 77 by means of the hold-down mechanism Sl while the knife 5G trims the front edge 221| of the book. The head and foot of the book 220 is then engaged between the inwardly moving jaws IE6 and. |060, by means of the cam |2i which acts through the actuating arm |26, lever l, shaft |27, levers |29 and c, connecting |3-l and |3|a, levers 32 and |32c, shafts iis' and lilla, levers H3 and lita. After the jaws |00 and lata have engaged the head and foot ofthe double book, the jaw supporting carriages itil and |08@ are moved toward the second stage of the machine, along their respective guide rods, by means of the cam actuating arm |37, lever |38, shaft its and levers H52 and lil-2a. When the carriages HES and Hita reach the end of their stroke, the jaws 06 and la move outwardly to release the double book and their carrlages- 00 and i @im then return to their First posi tion adjacent the first-stage cutting table 77.

After the book 22,05 has been released by the jaws |05 and Iu of the transfer mechanism |04, it is engaged along its trimmed front edge by the feed fingers Hi8- 14.5 provided on the feed racks idg-|49. rI'h'e feed racks |6i9-|il are reciprocated within'their respective guide frames ll- ISI by means of the crank IE6 which acts through the connecting roo itl', crank arm |68, shaft |59, gear segment |72 and gears |73, l'i and |79, and rack pinions ESQ-|82. During movement ofv the feed racks itil-leg toward the rear of the machine, they are disposed in their elevated position. During movement of the feed rackstoward the fronty of the machine, they are disposed in their lower poistion to permit their respective feedriingers U13-|40, etc., to pass beneath the booksfpositioned upon the guide plates |45'. The guide frames i5 ||5| and their respective feed racks are alternately raised'and lowered by means ofthe cam |54 which acts through the actuating arm |53,-crossbar |59, supporting arms |6 |-I6 l cross rods l-i 62 and supporting arms ISSe-'itB' and |B4-I54'. During reoiprocable movement of the feed racks |49', the feed fingers 'M3-|48; |'4Sa|48"a, etc., act to progressively 9 advance books from stage to stage for each of the several trimming operations.

As the books to be trimmed are advanced through the machine by the feed ngers provided on the feed racks |49-|49, they are brought to rest .at each of the four stages of the machine by means of stop fingers Hi8-|98, ISM-|9811, I98b-I90b and HSBC-|980 provided on the stop bars IBB-|83. After each cutting stroke of the knife carrier 8, the stop bars I83-l83 are moved to their lower position to permit books to pass rearwardly over the tops of the stop lingers. The stop bars l03-|83 are alternately raised and lowered by means of a cam |95 acting through an actuating arm |92, lever |9l, shaft |81 and levers I84-|84.

After a double book 220 has been trimmed and cut transversely to form two completely trimmed books, the finished books are delivered onto the stacking table 206 by means of the feed fingers M80-|480. As the finished books fall from the guide plates |46 onto the stacking table 206, the pusher 204 is disposed away from the stack of books 230 and toward the front of the machine. The pusher 204 is reciprocated into and out of engagement with the stack of books 230 during each cycle of operation of the knife carrier 8. The pusher 204 is actuated from the shaft I through sprocket chain 2 I8, shaft 2I4, crank 2|3, connecting link 2| 2, levers 208-208 and connectingr links 20T- 201.

While this invention has been shown in but one form, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocable movement about said base, means to actuate said knife carrier, five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being progressively arranged in cutting stages to trim a double book to form two individual books trimmed along their head, foot and front edges, one knife being disposed to trim a double book along its front edge, a pair of knives being arranged in spaced parallel relation to trim the head and foot of the double book, another knife being disposed to out the double book transversely intermediate its ends to form two individual books, and a fth knife disposed to trim the end of one of said individual books.

2. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical 'reciprocable movement above said base, means to actuate said :knife carrier, flve knives carried by; said knife carrier, said knives being, arranged in cutting stages to trim a double book to form two individual books trimmed along their head, foot and front edges, a first stage knife being disposed to trim a double book along its front edge, a pair of second stage knives being arranged in spaced parallel relation to trim the head and foot of the double book, a third stage knife being disposed to out the double book transversely intermediate its ends to form two individual books, a fourth stage knife being disposed to trim the end of one of said individual books.

3. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocable movement above said base, means to actuate said knife 10 carrier, five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being arranged in cutting stages to trim a double book to form two individual books trimmed along their head, foot and front edges, a first stage knife being disposed to trim a double book along its front edge, a pair of second stage knives being arranged in spaced parallel relation to trim the head and foot of the double book, a third stage knife being disposed to cut the double book transv-ersely intermediate its ends to form two individual books, a fourth stage knife being disposed to trim the end of one of said individual books, and means including a pair of opposing jaws to engage the head and foot of a double book and to move the latter rearwardly from the rst cutting stage to the second cutting stage.

4. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocable movement above said base, means to actuate said knife carrier, five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being arranged in cutting stages to trim a double book to form two individual books trimmed along their head, foot and front edges, a first stage knife being disposed to trim a double book along its front edge, a pair of second stage knives being arranged in spaced parallel relation to trim the head and foot of the double book, a third stage knife being disposed to cut the double book transversely intermediate its ends to form two individual books, a fourth stage knife being disposed to trim the end of one of said individual books, means including a pair of opposing jaws to engage the head and foot of a double book and to move the latter rearwardly from the first cutting stage to the second cutting stage, a pair of carriages to support said jaws for reciprocative movement, means to reciprocate said jaws, and means to move said carriages back and forth relative to said first stage knife.

5. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocative movement above said base, means to actuate said knife carrier, five knives carried by said knife carrier, lsaid knives being progressively arrangedl in cutting stages to trim the head, foot, and front edge of a double book and then to divide the double book to form two individual books and then to trim the end of one of said individual books, and feed means to move books from stage-to-stage throughout the machine.

6. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocative movement above said base, means to actuate said knife carrier, iive knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being progressively arranged in cutting stages to trim the head, foot, and front edge of a double book and then to divide the double book to form two individual books and then to trim the end of one of said individual books, feed means to move books from stage-to-stage throughout the machine, and stop fingers provided at each cutting stage of the machine to coact with said feed means to arrange books in position to be trimmed.

7. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocable movement above said base, means to actuate said knife carrier, five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being progressively arranged in cutting stages to trim a double book to form two individual books trimmed along their head, foot and front edges, feed means to move books from stage to stage through the machine, said feed means including reciprocable racks, means to reciprocate said racks, and means to move said racks up and down relative to said book supporting means.

8. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocable movement above said base, means to actuate said knife carrier, five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being progressively arranged in cutting stages to trim a double book to form two individual books trimmed along their head, foot and front edges, feed means to move books from stage to stage through the machine, stop fingers provided at each stage of the machine to coact with said feed means to arrange books in position to be trimmed, and means to move said stop fingers into and out of engagement with books moving along said book supporting means.

9. In a book trimming machine, a base, book supporting means provided on said base, a knife carrier mounted for vertical reciprocable movement above said base, means to actuate said knife carrier, five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being progressively arranged in cutting stages to trim a double book to form two individual books trimmed along their head, foot and front edges, feed means to move books from stage to stage through the machine, said feed means including reciprocable racks, means to reciprocate said racks, means to move said racks up and down relative to said book supporting means, stop lingers provided at each stage of the machine to coact with said feed means to arrange books in position to be trimmed, and means to move said stop lingers into and out of engagement with books moving along said book supporting means.

10. In a book trimming machine, a base, a knife carrier mounted on said base for vertical reciprocative movement, means to actuate said knife carrier, guide plates provided on said base to support books, feed means to move books along said guide plates, ve knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being arranged progressively and in spaced relation along the line of travel of the books to denne a plurality of cutting stages to trim and divide a double book whereby the double book is progressively trimmed and divided to produce two individual completely trimmed book and stop means coacting With said feed means to position books for trimming at each of said stages.

l1. In a book trimming machine, a base, a knife carrier mounted on. said base for vertical reciprocable movement, guide plates provided on said base to support books, feed means to move books along said guide plates, at least five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being arranged in four stages to trim a double book, stop means coacting with said feed means to position books for trimming at each of the four stages, said knives including a first stage knife Vdisposed in a plane normal to the line of travel of the books on said guide plates to trim the front edge of a double book.

12. In a book trimming machine, a base, a knife carrier mounted on said base for vertical reciprocable movement, means to actuate said carrier, guide plates provided on said base to Support books, feed means to move books along said guide plates, ve knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being arranged in four cutting stages to trima double book, stop means coacting with said feed means to position books for trimming at each of the four stages, said knives including a first stage knife disposed in a plane normal to the line of travel of the books on said guide plates to trim the front edge of a double book, a pair of second stage trimming knives arranged in spaced parallel relation in a plane normal to said first stage knife to trim the head and foot of a double book, a third stage knife disposed parallel to said second stage knives to cut a double book transversely intermediate its ends to form two individual books, a fourth stage knife disposed parallel to said third stage knife to trim one end of one of said individual books, and means to impart a draw-cut movement to said knives responsive to downward movement of said knife carrier.

13. In a book trimming machine, a base, a knife carrier mounted on said base for vertical reciprocable movement, means to actuate said knife carrier, guide plates provided on said base to support books, feed means to move books along said guide plates, ve knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being arranged in four cutting stages to trim a double book, stop means coacting with said feed means to position books for trimming at each of the four stages, said knives including a first stage knife disposed in a plane normal to the line of travel of the books on said guide plates to trim the front edge of a double book, a pair ofsecond stage trimming knives arranged in spaced parallel relation in a plane normal to said first stage knife to trim the head and foot of a double book, a third stage knife disposed parallel to said second stage knives to cut a double book transversely intermediate its ends to form two individual books, a fourth stage knife disposed parallel to said third stage knife to trim one end of one of said individual books.

14. In a book trimming machine, a base, a knife carrier mounted on said base for vertical reciprocable movement, means to actuate said knife carrier, guide plates provided on said base to support books, feed means to move books along said guide plates, five knives carried by said knife carrier, said knives being arranged in four cutting stages to trim a double book, and stop means coacting with said feed means to position books for trimming at each of the four stages.

ISABELLE WIEDERRECHT, Admim'stmtrz' de bom's non with Will Annexed of the Estate of Charles L. Moyer, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

